William Jewell College debaters Michael Lacombe (junior, Chalmette, LA) and Jimmy Stuart (sophomore, Sioux City, IA) won the 2011 Missouri State Championship in parliamentary debate, closing out the final round with fellow Jewell teammates Kyle Mellon (sophomore, Norman, OK) and Matt Reisener (sophomore, Indianola, IA). As a squad, Jewell won first place in debate sweepstakes.

Jewell has now won the state title four years in a row, the first college to earn that distinction. Helping the team win the overall sweeps were the teams of Rosemary Loehr (first year, Kansas City, MO) and Spencer Shanks (first year, Kearney, MO), who placed 4th, and Tim Brooks (senior, Springfield, MO) and Andrew Potter (junior, Buhler, KS), who placed 5th.

“I am so proud of our debaters,” said Director of Debate Dr. Gina Lane. “They’ve worked hard to earn these honors. Jewell debate continues to be the most successful squad in the state and ranked high nationally due to the level of talent our college produces every year.” Jewell is currently ranked 11th in the nation out of 220 colleges and universities representing all levels of the NAIA and NCAA.

The state championship was the last regular season tournament before the two national competitions. “We have high hopes for our debaters at the national tournaments,” Dr. Lane said. “If the regular season is an indication of how we will do, I have full faith our debaters will bring home a strong showing.”

William Jewell College is committed to bringing together talented students and gifted faculty mentors within a vibrant community sparked by a rigorous and intentional liberal arts curriculum. A full range of personal and professional development experiences are presented by the selective national liberal arts college’s location within the Kansas City metroplex of more than two million.